Sole-slashing machine.



W. C. STEWART. SOLE SLASHING MACHINE. APPLIQATION FILED JAN.16,1913.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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SOLE SLE- APPLICATION FILED JAN.15,1913.

SHING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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W. G. STEWART.

SOLE SLASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1913.

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W. G. STEWART.

SOLE SLASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1913.

1 1 24,182, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHING ION, D c.

W. C. STEWART. SOLE SLASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.15,1913.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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UNITED STATES ra'rnn wi WILLIAM G. STEWART, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE 4 MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed January 15, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. STEWART, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sole-Slashing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to sole slashing machines.

The machine of the present invention is an improvement on machines illustrated and described in Patent No. 871,967 to William 0. Stewart, granted November 26, 1907, and Patent No. 958,029 to I/Villiam C. Stewart, granted 'May 17, 1910. In the above patents, machines are shown which form oblique transverse slashes in an insole which open: toward the heel of the insole. In assembling a shoe, the insole is held in position on the last during the lasting operation, by means of small flat-headed tacks whichare driven through the middle of the insole into the last. After the shoe is lasted, these tacks are removed by an insole tack pulling machine, the tack pulling tool of which is moved with a wiping and slightly gouging stroke beneath the head of the tacks to pull them. It is necessary for the tack pulling tool to move over the face of the insole in the direction toward which the slashes open, because if the tack pulling tool should move in the opposite direction it would rub the slashes the wrong way, catch the edges of the slashes and tear them. Some of the insole tack pulling machines in commercial use operate to move their tack pulling tools toward the toe of the lasted insole, while other machines operate to move their tack pulling tools toward the heel. In order to prepare insoles for use with these two different types of insole tack pulling machines, it is necessary to provide a machine or machines which will cut slashes opening either toward the toe or the heel of the insoles, depending upon the direction of movement of the tack pulling tool of the insole tack pulling machines to which the lasted shoes are to be afterward presented. For reasons of economy, it is of advantage to have a single machine SOLE-SLASHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 742,143.

which will operate to cut slashes opening either toward the toe or the heel of the sole and so prepare insoles for either type of insole tack pullers. With this object in View, the present invention contemplates a solo slashing machine which will operate to produce a succession of slashes in the face of gheisole opening either toward the toe or the Another feature of the invention relates to a construction by virtue of which the speed at which the operator may feed the machine is increased. bole slashing machines as hitherto constructed which have been provided with mechanism for feeding the sole to the knives have left the sole after the slashing operation in such a position that the operator of the machine has had to grasp the sole and pull it backward from the machine before he could insert a fresh insole. In the machine of the present invention, the soles are fed by the operator into one side of the machine and are discharged at the other side of the machine in such a position that they are removed from the machine in the same direction in which they were fed to it, so that a fresh sole may be fed to the machine bythe operator simultaneously with the removal of the slashed sole, and consequently, the time required by the operator for feeding the machine is greatly reduced;

Other features of the invention relate to certain devices, combinations and arrangements of parts which go to make up a simpier and more durable sole slashing machine the advantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure l is a plan view of the machine, with the feed roll frame and the work tables removed, looking obliquely downward at an pawl mechanism arranged to feed from left to right; Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side views respectively of the yielding toe gage; Fig. 9 is a section taken partly on the line 99 of Fig. 2 and partly through the driving clutch on the line 99 of Fig. 3; Fig. is a section through the relatively yielding slides of the mechanism for transversely positioning the knife; and Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the feelers which engage the sides of the insole.

The machine head is mounted on a pedestal l and comprises a head frame which is formed by front and back plates 3 and 4. which are connected by transverse tie pieces 5 and uponwhich the operating mechanism is supported. The machine is set into operation by means of a treadle rod 2 which is raised by the treadle 6 at the base of the pedestal. The lower .end of the treadle rod 2 is surrounded by the helical compression spring 7 which extends between a guide lug 8 formed on the pedestal and the collar 9 on the treadle rod 2, and operates to normally hold the treadle rod depressed. The slashing knife 10 is carried upon and is reciprocated by means of a reciprocating cross head 11 which slides in guideways formed in the head frame, and which is reciprocated by means of an eccentric strap. 12 pivotally connected to the cross head 11 by means of a pin 13 and surrounding the eccentric 14: on the main driving shaft 15 of the machine. The knife 10 is mounted upon a knife carrier 20, which is slidably mounted to move transversely in the cross head 11. The knife 10 is longitudinally adjusted by means of a screw 21 and, like the knife shown by Patent No. 958,029, is provided with a slash director or regulator 22. In the lower face of the knife carrier is a guideway or boX 23 in which slides a block 24; which is pivotally mounted on the end of a lever 28 by means of a stud 25 which is adjustably held by a nut 26 in a slot 27 in the end of the lever. The lever 28 is pivotally mounted'on a stud 30 which projects from a sliding feeler block 31. The feeler block 31 is slidably mounted upon a supporting bar 32 which is mounted at either end of the head frame. The sliding feeler block 31 has two downwardly projecting ears 33, between which travels a pin 31 on the lever 28. It will be apparent that if the stud 30 of the lever 28 is held stationary the knife carrier and knife will be moved transversely of the cross head 11. It will also be evident that if the sliding feeler block 31 is permitted to move more or less and then be stopped, the position of the knife will correspondingly vary in its transverse relation with the cross head 11.

As pointed out in my two prior patents above mentioned, the width of the knife blade is not greater than the first cut to be made in the insole to be slashed. In order that the slashes may be cut the proper length in the insole, the knife is positioned so that the first incision is made near one edge of the insole and thereafter, while the sole is still in the same position, the knife is moved transversely toward the other edge of the sole and a second incision is made which forms a continuation of the first incision, so that a single continuous slash is formed extending transversely of the sole. Then the sole is fed to present successive portions of its face to the slashing knife. Between each feeding movement the slashing knife makes two reciprocations as above described, to form a single continuous slash in the sole] In order that the slashes may be properly positioned with relation to the edge of the insole, the transverse position of the knife is determined by means of feelers 1-0 which are mounted on the feeler block 31 and which, upon coming into contact with the edge of the sole, arrest the movement of the feeler block 31. The feelers 10 eX- tend upwardly into and are loosely engaged in a slot 38 which extends across the face of a support 39 which is positioned upon the side of the sole opposite the knife to support the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife 10 which is exerted against the sole. As shown in Fig. 11, the feelers 10 are formed by two fingers or horns on the end of the plate 11. The plate 41 has a notch 42 in its lower edge through which is passed a pin 43, which is mounted to turn in the feeler block 31 and which is held from accidental removal by means of a cotter pin i i. The pin 13 has a substantially triangular head 15 which, when turned down allows the plate 41 to be removed and which when turned up, as illustrated in Fig. 11, holds the plate 4:1 in place. A. clamping screw #:6 bears against the pin 13 so that it may be held in its turned position to retain the plate 41 in place. In order to bring the feelers into contact with the edge of the sole and thereafter to move the knife 10 transversely to position it with relation to the edge of the sole, the lever 28 is turned for each reciprocation of the slashing knife by means of a link which is reciprocated by means of the arm 51 of the bell crank lever 52. The bell crank lever 52 is mounted on a stud 53 on the machine frame and has upon the end of its short arm 5st a se mental gear 55 which meshes with an actuating rack 56 upon the reciprocating slide 57. The slide 57 (see Fig. 10) has two laterally projecting ears 58 and 59 which are bored to receive pins 60 and 61 respectively.

The pin 60 is clamped in position by means of a set screw 62. The pin 61 is loosely mounted to slide in the car 59. A helical spring 63 is coiled about the ends of the pins 60 and 61 and at its lower end bears against a flat collar 64 which is loosely mounted on the pin 60, and'at its upper end bears against a nut 65 which is threaded on the pin 61 and which may be turned to vary the tension of the spring 63. A look nut 66 is provided for the nut 65. The pin 61 has formed integrally upon it an annular rib 67 which engages the car 59 and holds the pin 61 against the pressure of the spring 63. The slide 57 is slidably mounted upon a secondslide 70. The slide 70 has on each end bifurcated ears 71 and 72 respectively in which is received the slide 57. The slide 57 is retained in place by means of top plates 73 and 74: which extend across the tops of the bifurcated ears 70 and 72 respectively. The spring 63 forms a yielding connection between the slides 57 and 70 so that if the slide 57 is arrested, the slide 70 is permitted to continue its movement relative to the slide 57 but against the force of thespring 63.

' vented from moving to the left, as viewed in Fig. 10, the bifurcated ear 72 presses against the rib 67 and moves the pin 61 and nut 65 to the left compressing the spring 63 against the collar 64 which lies against the car 58 of the arrested slide 57 and thus permitting the slide to continue its movement to the left.

The slide 70 is held in a guideway 80 in the machine frame by means of retaining plates 81 (Fig. 9). The slide 70 bears a cam roller 82 which is received in a cam path 83 formed in the rear face of the cam wheel 84 by means of which the slide 70 is reciprocated. The cam wheel 8 1 is mounted on the countershaft 85 of the machine which is driven from the main shaft 15 by means of the gears 86 and 87 at one-half the speed of the main shaft 15.

When the sole to be slashed is held in position on the work support 39 and the machine is running, the slide 70 is reciprocated and carries with it the slide 57, which, through the connecting lever 52 and link 50, turns the actuating lever 28. The lever 28 tends to slide the feeler block 31 in one direction or the knife carrier 20 in the opp0 site direction, or both these movements may take place simultaneously, until one of the feelers 4:0 is brought into contact with the edge of the sole, whereupon, the feeler block 31 is held against further transverse movement. The lever 28 will continue to move pin 34, carried by the lever 28, engages one or the other of the ears-33 of the feeler block, whereupon further; movement ofthe lever 28 and the knife carrier will cease, and the slide 57 will be held thereby against further movement. If at this time the slide 70 has not reached the end of its movement, the spring 63 will yield, allowing the slide 79 to finish its movement and hold the feeler s0 yieldingly against the edge of the sole. The knife carrier 20 and the knife 10 are thus correctly positioned with relation to the edge of the sole. After the knife is thus positioned, the cross head 11 rises and the knife 10 cuts a slash in the sole of the samelength as the knife. Then, the knife descends and, since the main shaft 15 and countershaft 85 rotate in a two to one timed relation, before the knife again rises, the opposite movements are imparted to the feeler block and knife carrier to position the knife on the opposite side of the sole so that it may again rise and cut a continuation of the first slash. r I

The slashes must not be made near enough to the edge of the insole to cut into the channel flap, but to make the insole as flexible as possible, the slashes should extend as close to the edge of the insole as they can without causing the edge of the channel flap to be nicked. The feelers 40 engage the edge of thesole and therefore the position of the knife is gaged from the edge ofthe sole. However, the position of the channel with relation to the edge of the insole may vary with different sizes and kinds of insoles. It is therefore desirable that some provision be had for adjusting the position of the slashes relatively to the edge of the sole so that the ends of the slashes may be brought as close as possible to the channel in all the insoles which are slashed. With the object of varying the position of the slashes with relation to the edge of the sole, the end of the lever 28 has the slot 27 in which is longitudinally adjusted the block 24 and its stud 25 whereby the effective length of the lever 28 may be varied and the position of the knife 10 with respect to the edge-engag ing feelers 10 may be likewise varied.

The work support 39 has a curved and roughened work-engaging surface over which the work is flexed lengthwise by means of a work deflecting roller 90 so that the knife 10 cuts a slash in the face of the sole which is oblique to its surface. The roll 90 is mounted on a frame 91 which is pivoted to the machine frame at 92, so that the roll 90 may be swung up or down. The frame 91 is connected with the treadle rod 2 so that when the treadle rod is raised to start the machine, the roll 90 is raised to flex the sole. To the upper end of the treadle rod 2 is connected at 93 a lever 94 which is pivoted at 95 to the back of the head frame. The upper end of the lever 94 bears a pin 96 upon which is mounted one link 97 of a toggle 98 and which is continued beyond the toggle and is received in a slot 99 in the frame 91. When the treadle rod 2 is raised to start the machine, the pin 96 lifts the frame 91 and brings the roll 90 against the sole and bends it around the support 39. When the treadle rod 2 drops after the slashing operation is completed, the pin 96 also drops and permits the roll 90 to fall and release the sole.

In order to feed the work to present successive portions of the sole face to the slashing knife, the sole is engaged between a roughened, positively driven feed roll 110 and a work clamping roll 111 which presses the work against the feed roll. The work clamping roll 111 raises the sole which presses it against the feed roll and so cooperates with the roll 90 in longitudinally bending the sole about the work support 39. The feed roll 110 is mounted on a feed roll frame 100 which is pivotally mounted on the head frame of the machine at 101 so that the feed roll frame and its supported parts may be swung to expose the slashing knife and feeler block. The feed roll frame is clamped in place by means of two set screws 103 which are received through ears 104 on the frame 100 and are threaded into holes 105 in the machine frame. In Fig. 1, the feed roll frame and the parts supported upon it are removed to expose the parts beneath it. The ears 106 between which the feed roll frame is pivoted and the holes 105 indicate in Fig. 1 the places where the feed roll frame is attached. The clamping roll 111 is mounted upon a clamping roll frame 112 which is pivotally mounted at 113 on the feed roll frame 100. The frame 112 has an upstanding arm 114 against which bears a helical compression spring 115 which tends to turn the frame 112 to raise the roll 111 against the feed roll 110. The other end of the spring presses against an adjustable abutment 116 mounted on the feed roll frame 100 so that the tension of the spring 115 may be adjusted to vary the force with which the roll 111 clamps the work against the feed roll 110. When the machine is at rest, the frame 112 is turned to hold the roll 111 depressed by means of a cam 117 against which bears a roller 118 carried by the frame 112. The cam 117 is formed on the upper end of the slide 120 which is mounted in a slideway on the machine frame. On the lower end of the slide 120 is fulcrumed at 121 a lever 122, the upper arm of which forms one link 123 of a toggle 124. The function of the toggle 124 is to transmit a downward thrust from the cross head 11 to the cam slide 120 just before the machine is stopped in order that the work clamping roll 111 may release the work. The machine stops with the knife 10 out of the Work and the cross head 11 in its lowered position, and it is upon the downward movement of the cross head 11, which immediately precedes its arrest in its lowered position, that the toggle 124 operates to depress the slide 120. I In order that the toggle 124 may thus operate, the second link 125 of this toggle is connected by means of a pin and slot connection 126 to the knifecarrying cross head 11. The pin and slot connection 126 allows a little lost motion between the link 125 and the cross head 11. A helical spring 130 is connected between the lower end of the lever 122 and the stud 131 on the machine frame and tends to straighten the toggle 124. A movable arm 132 has on its end an abutment or striker 133 which, when the machine is running, is raised against the lower end of the lever 122 and maintains the toggle in a broken condition. When, however, the machine is to be stopped, the striker 133 is lowered, while the cross head 11 is in its raised position just before its last descent, so that the toggle 124 is allowed to straighten under the action of the spring 130 and transmit a downward thrust from the cross head 11 to lower the slide 120.

The striker 133 and its carrying arm 132 are shown in the drawings in their raised position. The striker 133 is maintained in its raised position while the machine is at rest, and is not lowered until the machine is again started. In order that the arm 132 may thus be actuated to raise and lower the striker 133, it is mounted on a rock shaft 134. The rock shaft 134 is connected to the lower arm 135 of the lever 94 by means of a link 136, which is connected to the end of an arm 137 rigidly clamped on the rock shaft 134. When the treadle rod 2 is raised to start the machine, the lever 94 is turned and through its connections turns the rock shaft 134 to raise the arm 132 and break the toggle 124. When the machine is to be stopped, the lever 94 is turned in the opposite direction, the arm 132 is lowered and the toggle is allowed to straighten so that, as before mentioned, the clamping roll 111 is moved away from the feed roll. The roll 118 is spring-pressed against the cam 117 with sufficient pressure so that when the toggle 124 is broken, the slide 120 moves upwardly, and the clamping roll 111 is held yieldingly against the feed roll 110. During the time while the machine is running,

and the toggle 124 is prevented from straightening, the toggle 124 is moved idly back and forth as the cross head 11 reciprocates, the pin and slct connection allowing suflicient lost motion so that the cross head 11 may reach the upward limit of its stroke while the toggle is still broken. When the machine is to be stopped after the slashing operation has been completed, the

arm is lowered before the cross head 11 begins its last descent to allow the toggle 124 to straighten under the action of the spring, which it will do, when the cross head is at the upper limit of its stroke so that when the cross head 11 moves downwardly it will carry with it the slide 120 and separate the clamping roll 111 from the feed roll 110. 1Vhile the machine is at rest, the toggle 124 remains straight so that the roll 111 is held away from the feed roll until the machine is again started. When the machine is again started, the arm 132 is raised to break the toggle 124 and allow the slide 120 to move upwardly under the action of the spring pressed roll 118 and permit the work to be held between the clamping roll 111 and the feed roll 110.

The feed roll is intermittently rotated after each complete slash'is cut to present another portion of the work to the slashing knife. As above described, each complete transverse slash is formed by two reciprocations of the knife, so that between each feeding movement the work is held stationary duringtwo reciprocations of the knife. In order to thus intermittently feed the work, the feed roll 110 bears a ratchet wheel 140 which is turned by a pawl which is con nected to the countershaft 85. to reciprocate once for each revolution of the countershaft. The ratchet wheel 140 is mounted upon one end of the feed roll shaft 141 outside of the machine frame. The ratchet wheel 140 is loosely fitted over the end of the shaft and is held to rotate therewith by means of a key 142. The ratchet wheel is removably held in place by means of a washer 143 and a screw 144 which'is threaded into the end of the feed roll shaft 141. It is obvious that the ratchet wheel 140 may he slipped 0d the end of the shaft 141, be reversed and put back again so that the teeth 145 of the ratchet wheel will face in an opposite direction. The pawl which engages the ratchet teeth is carried on the end of a reciprocating rod 150, the lower end of which bears a cam roll 151 which runs in a cam path 152 in the front of the cam wheel 84. The lower end of the rod 150 below the cam roll 151 is bifurcated to form two fingers between which engaged the countershaft 85 which serves as a guide for the lower end of the rod 150. The cam path 152 is such that the rod 150 is reciprocated once during each revolution of the countershaft'85, and is so timed that its movement takes place while the cutting knife is out of the work. The upper end of the rod 150 has a seat 153 in which the ratchet engaging pawl is held. As shown in Fig. 2, a pawl 154, which has a clownwardly facing pawl tooth or hook, is'employed when the ratchet wheel 140 is rotated to feed the work to the left as viewed iniFig. 2. As shown in Fig. 6, another pawl 155, which has an upwardly facing tooth or shoulder, is employed when the ratchet wheel 140 is rotated to feed the work in the opposite direction. The pawls 154 and 155 are held in place on the rod. 150 by means of a screw 156 and dowel pin 157. The upper end of the rod 150 is loosely held by means of a guide plate 160 which is screwed to the machine frame. A plunger 161is yieldingly held by means of a helical spring 162 against the side of the rod 150 to normally press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet teeth.

It will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 6, that when the feeding pawl is moved to turn the ratchet wheel 140, the feeding pawl will be moved transversely to the right against the yielding plunger 161. The tooth of the pawl forms a right-angled shoulder, which, when the pawl has reached the end or completion of its feeding stroke, fits exactly into the right-angled space between the teeth of the ratchet wheel. An adjustable screw plug 163 forms a seat for the lower end of the spring 162 and also forms an abutment for the lower end of the plunger 161 against which the plunger is brought by the transverse movement of the feeding pawl as it turns the ratchet wheel. The plug 163 may be adjusted so that when the pawl has completed its feeding movement, the lower end of the plunger 161 will just be brought into contact with the screw plug 163. The pawl tooth is, therefore, held positively in place in the notch between the ratchet teeth, and thus positively locks the feed roll against movement in either direction, so that the work is securely held against movement during the slashing operation. The screw plug 163 forms a nice adjustment, so that the plunger 161 is arrested just at the end of the movement of the pawl. The ratchet wheel 140 is held against backward rotation by means of a holding pawl 164. The holding pawl 164 is formed on the end of a plunger 165 which is loosely mounted in the machine frame and is normally pressed into engagement with the ratchetwheel by means of a. helical spring 166. One face 167 of the pawl is cut away and flattened and fits against the pin 168 which holds the pawl 164 from rotating. -When the ratchet wheel 140 is placed as shown in Fig. 2, the pin 168 is inserted on the left hand side of the pawl 164 which is turned to present its tooth-engaging edge to the right. When the ratchet wheel 140 is arranged as shown in Fig. 6, the pawl 164 is turned half way about and the pin 168 inserted at the right of the pawl. It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the machine will operate to feedthe sole through the machine in either direction depending upon the way in which the ratchet wheel-140 is placed on the end of the feed roll shaft. The insoles receive a varying number of slashes depending principally upon the length of the insole. In insoles of not too widely varying length and shape, the first slash can be made the same distance from the toe irrespective of the length of the insole, and then the number of subsequent slashes back of this first slash will depend upon the length of the insole. Of course, for very large or small sizes, or for odd shapes, the distance between the first slash and the toe may vary, but for the ordinary sizes and shapes of insoles, this distance is the same. In order that the machine need not be adjusted for each size of insole which is to be slashed, it is desirable that the first out be gaged from the toe and then the insole be fed forwardly for the number of slashes required for the particular size of insole. In the present machine, the first slash is always gaged from the toe of the insole irrespective of whether the insole is presented to the slashing knife to cut slashes opening toward the toe or toward the heel.

The machine has two work tables 17 0 and 171 at the left hand and right hand sides of the machine respectively. The work table 170 is secured at its ends to the frame of the machine by means of screws 180. The work table 171 is secured at its ends to the feed roll frame 112 by means of screws 169 so that when the feed roll frame is lifted the table 171 is also lifted from the machine to permit access to the mechanism beneath. Between these two work tables is located the feeding and slashing mechanisms so that a sole which is fed into the machine from one table is discharged by the machine upon the other table. When the slashes are cut to open toward the toe of the sole, the ratchet wheel 140 and its actuating pawl is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2, and a toe gage 172 is secured by means of a clamping bolt 173 to the work table 170. The work table 171 at the right of the machine is left free and upon it is placed the insole which the operator pushes into the machine. The toe gage 172 is shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8. The gage 172 is a vertical toe-engaging plate 174 which is hinged by means of a spring hinge 175 to a horizontal plate 176 which has a slot 177 through which is passed the clamping bolt 173. A downturned ear 178 fits into a slot 179 of the table to hold the gage in proper alinement. By means of the slot 177, the gage 172 may be adjusted on the table so that the position of the first slash in the sole may be varied.

When the gage 172 is used, the sole is placed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the toe resting against the gage 17 2. Then, the treadle is depressed and the machine started. When the machine starts, the roll 111 lifts the toe of the insole from the surface of the table 170 until the end of the toe is opposite the upper part of the toe gage 17 2. Since this is a yielding plate, as soon as the work is fed, the toe presses the gage 172 out of its path and then slides over the top of the gage. The sole is intermittently fed forwardly until the machine is automatically stopped after a predetermined number of slashes have been out. When the machine is stopped, the toe of the sole projects over the work table 17 O resting on the top of the gage 17 2 so that the operator can grasp the toe of the sole with his left hand and pull it to the left out of the machine, and at the same time insert an unslashed sole with his right hand into the right side of the machine from the table 171. The operator is thus enabled to take the sole from the machine at the side opposite from that it was put into the machine, and is, therefore, enabled to use both hands in tending the machine, which greatly increases the output of the machine.

When slashes opening toward the heel are to be cut in a sole, a gage 190 is secured to the work table 171 by means of a bolt 191. The gage 190 (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4) is similar in shape to the gage 172, but is formed of a single piece of sheet metal and is not yielding. The gage 190, like the gage 172, has a lug 192 received in a slot 193 in the work table and is provided with an elongated slot through which is received the bolt 191, so that the gage may be adjusted to vary the position of the first slash. The gage 172 is removed from the work table 17 0 so that the soles may be placed upon it to be fed into the machine. Since the sole is to be fed from left to right, the pawl and ratchet for the feed roll are arranged as shown in Fig. 6. The shoe is placed on the work table 170 and is thrust by the opera tor into the machine until the toe contacts with the gage 190. Then the treadle is depressed and the machine started. \Vhen the treadle is depressed, the roll 90 lifts the toe of the insole high enough so that it clears the top of the gage 190 as it is fed forwardly. The sole is fed toward the right until the machine is automatically stopped at the completion of the slashing operation. When the machine is stopped, the toe of the sole projects over the work table 171 resting on top of the gage 190. The operator then grasps the slashed sole in his right hand, pulls it from the machine, and at the same time inserts an unslashed sole with his left hand into the left side of the machine from the table 17 0. To prevent the toe of the sole from accidentally projecting downward and passing beneath the roll 90, a guard plate 195 is placed on the feeler block 31 in position to deflect the toe upwardly in case it should drop.

In order that the slashes shall be continued over the ball portion of the insole the proper distance toward the shank, themachine operates to cut a predetermined number of slashes in the insole, and then automatically stops and releases the insole so that it can be removed from the machine.

A friction clutch and brake, indicated generally by reference numeral 200, together with their actuating mechanism are employed for throwing the power on and oflt. The bearing 201 of the main shaft 15 is continued at the back of the machine and is enlarged to form a stationary brake head 202 which has an internal conical brake surface 203 (Fig. 9.) At the rear of the bearing 201 of the main shaft 15 is a sleeve 204 which is rigidly secured on the main shaft 15 by means of a key 205. The rear end of the sleeve 204 is enlarged to form a conical friction surface 206 which has a facing 207 of leather or similar friction material. The surface 206 forms one member of the driving clutch for the machine. A collar 210 is loosely mounted to both rotate and slide on the middle portion of the sleeve 204. On opposite sides of the collar 210 are formed wedge-receiving ways 211 which have inclined faces to coiiperate with inclined faces on a two-pronged wedge 213 which fits over the collar 210. The two prongs of the wedge 213 hold the collar 210 from rotation and the wedge 213 operates when driven in position to move the collar 210 backward (to the right as viewed in Fig. 9). On the forward end of the sleeve 204 is loosely splinedthe rotating male brake member or disk 214 faced with leather or like friction material 215, which cotiperates with the fixed conical female brake surface 203. When the wedge 213 is pressed into place, it bears against the brake disk 214 and presses it into place. When the wedge is removed, the brake is released.

On the shaft 15 at the rear of the sleeve 204 is loosely mounted a sleeve 220, the front end of which has a flange 221 from which project two pins 222 which pass through holes in the outwardly turned portion of the sleeve 204 and bear against a wear-plate or washer 223 which is interposed between the ends of the pins and the end of the collar 210. A. washer 224 of somewhat greater external diameter than the sleeve 220 is pressed against the rear end of the sleeve 220 by means of a helical spring 225, the outer end of which abuts against a nut 226 which is threaded and clamped upon a stud 227 which in turn is threaded into the end of the shaft 15. The nut 226 affords adjustment by means of which the force of the spring may be varied. Loosely mounted to slide and rotate upon the sleeve 220 is the driving pulley 230. On the inside of the driving pulley 230 is formed a conical female clutch surface 219 which fits over the leather-faced male clutch surface 206 on the sleeve 204. The hub 229 of the driving pulley 230 extends to the front to form an annular bearing surface 231 against which the flange 221 of the sleeve 220 is adapted at certain times to bear, and the flange is extended to the rear to form a bearing 232 for the idle pulley 233 to which the driving belt may be shifted when the machine is not in use. A collar 234 secured to the end of the hub holds the idle pulley in place. When the machine is at rest, the parts of the clutch and brake are in the position shown in the drawings. When the machine is to be started, the operator depresses the treadle which raises the treadle rod 2 and through the connections to the wedge 213 withdraws the wedge 213 from the clutch. When the wedge is withdrawn, the collar 210 is free to move to the front (or the left as viewed in Fig. 9) allowing the pins 222 and the sleeve 220 to move forward under the action of the spring 225. As soon as the sleeve 220 has moved slightly forward, the washer 224 bears against the shoulder 228 on the inside of the hub of the pulley 230, and moves the pulley forward until the surface 219 is brought against the leather-faced surface 206 so that the pulley 230 is frictionally held upon the sleeve 204 and rotates the driving shaft. As soon as the two surfaces 219 and 206 are brought together, the forward movement of the pulley under the action of the spring 225 is arrested so that the pins 222 no longer press forward upon the sleeve 204. The brake disk 214 is, therefore, relieved from any pressure tending to hold it against the fixed. brake surface 203, and since the brake disk 214 is rotating, it will free itself from the fixed brake member and will allow the shaft to run freely. When the machine is to be stopped, the wedge 213 is forced into place, moving the brake disk 214 for ward to set the brake and moving the collar 210 backward to release the clutch. The collar 210, in its backward movement, strikes against the pins 222 and moves the sleeve 220 backward, compressing the spring 225 and moving the washer 224 away from the shoulder 226. The flange 221 is pressed against the forward surface 231 of the hub of the pulley 230 and moves the pulley to the rear and disen gages the two friction surfaces 219 and 206 of the clutch. The clutch is thus released and the brake is applied to quickly stop the machine.

The mechanism for operating the wedge 213 to start and to automatically stop the machine will now be described. The wedge 213 is pivotally connected at 240 (Figs. 3 and 5) to the upper end of a lever 241 which is loosely mounted upon the rock shaft 134. The lower end of the lever 241 is bent rear- Wardly (Fig. 1) and haspivotally mounted upon its end a bell crank 2 18 which forms one arm of a toggle 24 1. Projecting forward from the lower end of the lever 241 is an ear 245 in which is threaded an adjustable screw 2 16 which contacts with a shoulder 247 on the machine frame to limit the outward movement of the wedge 218. Loosely mounted on the rock shaft 13-1 is an arm 250 which carries on its lower end a cam roller 251 which is arranged to be brought into the path of a riser or cam on the sleeve 201 when the toggle 2141s straightened. Pivoted on the arm 250 is a second bell crank 253 which forms the other arm of the toggle an. A spring 254 tends to keep the toggle straightened. The knuckle 255 of the toggle is provided with suitable stop lugs which prevent the toggle 2 14 from being carried beyond its straight position under the action of the spring 254:.

The bell crank 213 has a lug 260 which lies in the path of a finger 261 which is rigidly clamped on the end of the rock shaft 134 by means of its split hub and clamping screw 262. When the machine is at rest, the parts have the position shown in the drawing. When the treadle is depressed, the treadle rod 2 is raised and the lever 94 is turned about its fulcrum 95 and through the link 136 and arm 137 turns the rock shaft 134: in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5. The finger 261 strikes against the lug 260 and breaks the toggle, the knuckle 255 of which moves downward. The shortening of the toggle 24 1 draws the arm 250 to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 and removes the cam roller 251 from the path of the cam 252, so that these parts will not strike and chatter during the running of the machine. The continued movement of the finger 261 against the lug 260 moves the bell crank 24:3 bodily downward and turns the lever 2 11 in an anticlockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, and withdraws the wedge 213, releasing the brake and applying the clutch. When the machine is to be stopped at the completion of the slashing operation, the lever 94 is turned in the opposite direction and rotates the rock shaft 184: in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. The crank 248 is relieved of the pressure of the finger 261 against its lug 260- and the toggle 2414c is free to straighten under the action of the spring 254, which it does and moves the arm 250 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, to carry the cam roller 251 into the path of the cam 252. When the rotation of the sleeve 204 brings the cam 252 against the roller 251, the arm 250 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, and transmits a thrust through the straightened toggle 24: 1 to the lever 241 which is turned in a clockwise direction to force the wedge into place, thus applying the brake and releasing the clutch to stop the machine.

In order to automatically stop the machine after a predetermined number of slashes have been made in the sole, an automatic stopping mechanism is provided which comprises a stop rod 270 and mechanism for actuating the rod after the predetermined number of slashes have been made. The rod 270 is mounted to slide in the lugs 271 and 272 formed on the machine frame. A stop collar 273 limits the downward movement of the stop rod under the action of the helical spring 274 which normally operates to maintain the rod in its lowered position while the machine is running. The rod 270 is held in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. 3, both while the machine is running and while the machine is at rest. When the machine is to be stopped, however, the rod 270 moves upward and the striker 275 on the upper end of the rod is brought against the bottom of the link 97 of the toggle 98, breaking the toggle against the force of the spring 276. The spring 7 draws down upon the treadle rod 2 and through the lever 94: exerts a thrust on the toggle 98. As soon as the toggle 98 is broken by the striker 275, it no longer supports the upper end of the lever 94 which is then free to move downward under the action of the spring 7. The spring 7 at the base of the machine which tends to hold the treadle rod depressed, is strong enough so that it draws down the treadle rod 2 and turns the lever 9 1 into the position shown in the drawings, and 0perates to lower the work clamping and defleeting rolls 111 and 90 and to release the clutch and apply the brake. When the machine is to be again started, the treadle rod 2 is raised lifting the upper end of the lever and allowing the toggle 98 to straighten the action of the spring 276. The straightened toggle 98 acts as a support for the upper end of the lever 94 and holds the upper end of the lever 94 raised to maintain the machine in running condition until the toggle is again broken by the striker 275.

The stop rod 270 is raised after a predetermined number of slashes have been cut, by means of a striker or finger 280 which is brought into contact with the bottom of the stop rod. The striker 280 is mounted on the lower end of a shaft 281 which is loosely mounted in a sleeve 282. On the upper side of the striker 280 is a pin 283 which fits into a number of holes 28 1 in the bottom of a ratchet wheel 285 which is rigidly supported on the lower end of the sleeve 282. A spring 286 surrounding the shaft 281 between the top of the sleeve 282 and a dial head 287 on the shaft 281 tends to raise the rod and hold the pin 283 one of the holes 284. The shaft 281 and the dial head 287 may be rctatably adjusted in the sleeve 282 by depressing the head 287 against the force of the spring 286 and turning it. W hen the head is released, the pin 283 is lifted into one of the holes 284 and the striker 280 and dial head 287 are thus locked together and turn with the ratchet wheel 285. The dial head has numerals marked upon it, and an indicating finger 288 is mounted on the machine frame beside the dial.

The numeral on the dial head which is positioned opposite the pointer- 288 when the machine is started indicates the number of complete transverse slashes which will be out before the machine is automatically stopped. The ratchet wheel 285 is fed forward the space of one tooth for every revolution of the countershaft 85 by means of a feeding pawl 290. The pawl 290 is pivoted at 201 upon the end of an arm 292 which is fnlcrumed'upon the machine frame at and bears a cam roller 291 which runs in a cam path in the cam wheel 295. The pawl 200' is held against the ratchet wheel 285 by means of a spring 296. The movement of the pawl under the action of the spring 296 is limited by a stop shoulder 297 on the lever 202 so that when the lever is moved away from the ratchet wheel 285, as shown in Fig. 1, the ratchet wheel 285 is entirely freed from the pawl 290. The cam path in the cam wheel 295 is so shaped that the arm 292' makes one oscillation for each rotation of the cou'ntershaft 85 which corresponds to one feeding movement of the feed roll 110. Upon each rotation of the countershaft 85, the pawl 290 feeds the ratchet wheel 285 one tooth forward and turns the dial head :28? and sleeve 282 against the force of a spring 300 which is coiled about the sleeve 282. The spring 300 extends between the n 301 on the machine frame and the pin 302 on the sleeve 282 and tends to turn the sleeve 282 and the ratchet wheel 285 backvard. The ratchet wheel 285 is prevented from turning backward when the machine is running by means of a retaining pawl 303 which is held in'engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 285 by means of a wiring 3011. A lifting finger 305 projects from the end of the pawl 303 into the path of the striker 280. The striker 280 is not oed narily brought into contact with the lifting finger 305, but in case the operator holds the treadle depressed and the machine is consequently not arrested by the upward movement of the stop rod 270 under the action of the striker 280, the continued movement of the striker 280 raises the lifting linger 305 and releases the pawl 303 from the ratchet wheel 285 which, when the actuating pawl 290 moves backward, is free to turn back under the influence of the spring 300 until the striker 280 releases the finger 305 and allows the retaining pawl 303 to again engage theiratchet wheel 285. This backward movement will be a single tooth ofthe ratchet Wheel. The provision of the lifting finger 305 for the pawl 303 allows the ratchet wheel to be moved idly back and forth the space of a single tooth by means of the actuating pawl 290 in case any attempt should be made to run the machine continuously and so prevents a continued rotation of the ratchet wheel. hen the machine is stopped, the pawl 303 is automatically disengaged from the ratchet wheel 285, and the ratchet wheel 285 and the dial head 287 are turned backward by the spring 300 until a pin 306, projecting from the lower face of the ratchet wheel 285, is arrested by its engagement with the side of the stop rod 270. The dial head 287 is thus arrested in its starting position in which the numeral on the dial head which indicates the number of slashes to be cut'is positioned opposite the pointer 288, in preparation for the next slashing operation upon a fresh piece of work. In order to so release the pawl 303 from the ratchet wheel, a link 3110 is connected between the pivoted arm 311 upon which the pawl 303 is mounted and an arm 312 which is carried by the rock shaft 131. The link 310 is connected to the arm 312 by means of a pin 31.3 on the arm 312 which is engaged in an elongated slot 314 in the end of the link 310, so that while the machine is runniiig, the link 310 is allowed sufficient freedom of movement for the pawl 303 to be lifted by the ratchet teeth as they are fed forward. When the rock shaft 13% is turned to stop the machine, the link 310 is drawn upwardly and lifts the pawl 303 from the ratchet wheel 285 which is returned to Zero by its spring 300. Vhen the machine is again started, the rock shaft 134 is turned so that the pawl 303 is free to move under the action of the spring 33-1 against the teeth of the ratchetwheel 285.

It will be seen that when the machine is started, the ratchet wheel 285 will be fed forward a single tooth each time the work' is fed. This will continue until the striker 280 comes in contact with the bottom of the stop rod 270 which it raises and automatically stops the machine. The numerals on the dial head 287 indicate the number of slashes which the machine is set to out. For example, as shown in'Fig. 1, the numeral 5 is opposite the indicating finger 288. The ratchet wheel 285 will, therefore, be fed forward the proper number of teeth and the striker 280 will lift the stop rod 270 to stop the machine after five slashes have been cut in he sole.

The operation of the machine is as followsz-If an insole is to receive slashes which open toward the toe, the gage 190 is removed from the table 171 and the gage 172 is positioned on the table 170. The ratchet wheel 1 10 and its actuating pawl are arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, to feed the sole from right to left. The dial head 287 is turned so that the pointer 288 Will come opposite the numeral which indicates the number of slashes that the insole is to receive. The insole is placed on the table 171 and pushed into the machine until the tooth engages the toe gage 172-. Then the treadle is depressed raising the rolls 111 and 90 to bend the sole about the work support 39 and to turn the lever 9% to actuate the clutch operating and brake releasing mechanisms. Before the slashing knife enters the work, the feeler block 31 is moved to bring one of the feelers 40 against the edge of the sole, and position the knife transversely of the sole, and thereafter the knife 10 rises to cut a slash in the sole. The feeler block is then moved in the opposite direction to bring the other feeler 10 against the opposite edge of the sole and move the knife transversely across the sole to position it, and thereafter the knife 10 rises again to out another slash which is a continuation of the first slash and forms with it a complete transverse slash across the ball portion of the insole inside of the channel. Then the feed roll is turned one space of a single ratchet tooth of the ratchet wheel 140 to move the insole along a predetermined distance and position it for two more reciprocations of the knife 10 to form the second slash. The slashing operation is repeated until the continued rotation of the ratchet wheel 285 brings the striker 280 against the end of the stop rod 270, raising the stop rod to cause the striker 275 to break the toggle 98 and allow the lever 94: to turn. The lever 9% turns under the action of the spring 7 and through its pin and slot connection 96 and 99 lowers the deflecting roll 90, and through its connection with the rock shaft 134 allows the toggle 12% to straighten to cause the downward movement of the cross head 11 to lower the work clamping roll 111, allows the roll 251 to be lifted by the cam 252 to stop the machine and retracts the pawl 303 to allow the counting dial to return to Zero. When the machine is stopped, the parts assume the position shown in the drawings. The sole which has been slashed has been fed forward from the table 171 onto the table 170 over which the toe of the shoe projects above the edge of the gage 172. The operator grasps the toe of the slashed insole and pulls it out over the work table 170 at the same time moving in an unslashed insole from the work table 171. The treadle is again depressed and the slashing operation repeated on the new piece of work.

If an insole is to receive slashes which open toward the heel of the insole, the gage 172 is removed from the work table 170 and the gage 190 placed upon the work table 171. The feeding ratchet 140 and its actuating pawl are arranged, as shown in Fig. 6, to feed the sole from left to right. Then the insole is placed on the table 170 and moved by the left hand of the operator into the machine until the toe engages the gage 190. The treadle is depressed, bending the insole about the work support 39 and starting the machine. The machine operates to slash and feed the insole to the right until the machine is automatically stopped after a predetermined number of slashes have been out. When the machine is stopped, the insole projects over the work table 171, resting on top of the gage 190. The operator then grasps the slashed insole in his right hand and draws it from the machine at the same time sliding, with his left hand, an unslashed insole from the work table 170into the machine. Then he again depresses the treadle and the slashing operation is repeated.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but may be embodied in other constructions within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim 1. A sole slashing "machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, and.- means for positioning and intermittently feeding the sole step by step between the slash forming strokes of the knife to present successive uncut portions of the sole face to the slashing knife so as to produce a succession of slashes in the sole face opening either toward the toe or the heel of the sole.

2. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, and means for positioning and feeding the work operating to gage the position of the first slash from the toe of the sole and cooperating with the knife to produce a succession of slashes opening either toward the tee or heel of the sole.

3. A sole slashing machine having, in conr bination, a slashing knife, means for re ciprccating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the,

sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, means for feeding the work past the knife in either direction, and supports on both sides of the knife in the line of feed for holding gages against which thesole is positioned.

i. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the. sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, and means for positioning and feeding the sole to present successive portions of the sole face to the slashing knife so as to produce a succession of slashes in the sole face having provision for receiving a sole presented at one side of the machine by one hand of the operator and carrying the sole through. the machine and dischargin r it at the opposite side of the machine n position to be easily grasped and removed by the other hand of the operator.

5. A sole slashing machine having, in com bination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, two work tables, one on each side of the knife, a feed roll located between the work tables for feeding the sole from one work table past the knife to the other table and cooperating with the knife to produce a succession of spaced oblique slashes in the sole, and means for guiding and positioning the sole including a gage against which the sole is positioned on one work table with respect to the knife and having provision for guiding the sole past the gage when the feed roll operates.

6. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, a feed roll cooperating with the knife to produce a succession of oblique slashes in the sole, means for actuating the feed roll to feed the sole in either direction, and means for positioning and guiding the sole cooperating with the knife and feed roll to produce a succession of oblique slashes in the sole face opening either toward the toe or heel of the sole including two work tables, one on each side of the knife and feed roll, upon which the soles to be slashed are placed by the operator and from which they are fed to the machine, one or the other of said tablesbeing employed, depending upon. the

direlction in which the feed roll feeds the wor r.

7. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, a feed roll cooperating with the knife to produce a succession of oblique slashes in the sole having provision for feeding the sole in either direction, means for positioning and guiding the sole cooperating with the knife and feed roll to produce a succession of oblique slashes in the sole face opening either toward the toe or heel of the sole including two work tables, one on each side of the knife and feed roll, upon which the soles to be slashed are placed by the operator and from which they are fed to the machine, one or the other of said tables be ing employed, depending upon the direction in which the feed roll feeds the work, and a toe gage on the side of the knife and feed roll opposite the table which is employed by the operator in feeding the work, for positioning the sole supported upon said table with respect to the slashing knife to gage the first slash a predetermined distance from the toe of the sole.

8. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, and positioning and feeding means for receiving a sole toe first, for gaging the first slash a predetermined distance from the toe of the sole and for feeding the sole forwardly from toe to heel past the knife in either direction so as to cause a succession of slashes to be cut by the knife in the sole face opening either toward the toe or the heel of the sole.

9. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, means for feeding a sole intermittently step by step and slashing it including a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face to slash it between its irtermittent feeding movements, and means for guiding the sole and positioning it to receive slashes opening toward either the toe or the heel of the sole.

10. A. sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, means for positioning the sole and feeding the sole to present successive. portions of the sole to the slashing knife comprising a feed roll and a yielding gage which is located on the side of the roll toward which the work is fed for engaging the end of the sole when it is presented to the machine and which is deflected out of the path of the sole by the pressure of the sole when the sole is fed by the feed roll. 7

11. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for actuating the knife to cut slashes in the sole face, and means for relatively moving the knife and sole transversely of the sole to locate the slashes a predetermined distance from the edge of the sole comprising an actuating lever, the effective length of which may be adjusted to vary the distance between the side of the sole and the slashes.

12. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for reciprocating the knife in a path oblique to the sole face, a support on the side of the sole opposite the knife for supporting the sole against the thrust of the slashing knife, means for positioning and feeding the sole, a feeler block mounted to reciprocate transversely of the sole, feelers rigidly mounted on the feeler block to engage the edges of the sole, a knife carrier mounted to reciprocate transversely of the sole, and means for moving the knife carrier transversely of the sole to locate the slashes a predetermined distance from the edge of the sole comprising mechanism for moving the feeler block until one of the feelers is arrested and held against further movement'by the edge of the sole.

13. A sole slashing machine having, in combination,'a slashing knife, means for actuating the knife to slash the sole, and means for positioning and feeding the sole comprising a feed roll, a ratchet wheel and a reciprocating driving pawl for rotating the feed roll, a guide for the pawl having a spring-pressed movable member for holding the pawl against the ratchet wheel, an abutment for limiting the movement of the spring-pressed member, and means for adjusting the abutment.

14. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for actuating the knife to slash the sole face, means for guiding and feeding the work comprising a feed roll, a ratchet wheel and a reciprocating driving pawl for rotating the feed roll, and a guide for the pawl having an adjustable abutment which positively limits the transverse movement of the pawl away from the ratchet wheel.

15. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for actuating the knife to slash the sole face, means for feeding the work, means for automatically stopping the machine after a predetermined number of slashes have been out including a ratchet wheel which is intermittently fed while the machine is running, a spring tending to turn the ratchet wheel backward, a retaining pawl for holding the ratchet wheel from backward rotation, and a striker movable with the ratchet wheel for lifting the retaining pawl after the wheel has been fed forward a predetermined number of teeth to allow the wheel to turn backward under the action of its spring so that continued forward movement of the ratchet wheel is prevented in case the machine is run continuously.

16. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for actuating the knife to slash the sole face,

- means for positioning and feeding the work,

and means for automatically stopping the machine after a predetermined number of slashes have been cut comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel for feeding the ratchet forward while the machine is running, a spring tending to hold the pawl against the ratchet wheel, and a stop for limiting the movement of the pawl under the action of the spring arranged so that when the pawl is at the limit of its movement away from the ratchet wheel, the ratchet wheel will be entirely freed from the pawl, so that the ratchet wheel may be then turned backward.

17. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, means for feeding the work past the knife, mechanism for actuating the knife to slash the sole face and for operating the feeding means, a clutch forthrowing on the power to drive the machine, manually operable means for applying the clutch, mechanism for maintaining the clutch in its operative position to drive the machine including a toggle which is straight during the normal running of the machine, and means for automatically stopping the machine after a predetermined number of slashes have been cut comprising a spring for exerting a thrust upon the toggle and a power actuated striker operating after a predetermined number of slashes have been cut to break the toggle.

18. A sole slashing machine having, in combination, a slashing knife, a reciprocating carrier for the knife, means for feeding the work comprising two rolls, a spring normally tending to hold the rolls together to yieldingly clamp the work between them, and mechanism for separating the rolls against the action of the spring when the machine is to be stopped comprising a toggle which is connected to the knife carrier and which is maintained broken and is moved idly by the reciprocating knife carrier during the normal running of the machine, and means acting automatically when the machine is to be stopped to straighten the toggle, said toggle When straightened knife transversely of the sole face a predeacting to transmit a thrust from. the knife termined distance from the feeler having an 10 carrier to separate the rolls. adjustment for varying the said distance.

19. A sole slashing machine having in r y a combination, a slashing knife, means for op- I VILLIAM STElVART' erating the knife to cut a transverse slash in Witnesses: the sole face, a feeler for feeling the edge of ERIC A. HOLMGREN, the sole, and mechanism for positioning the HAROLD E. KENYON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

